Collector Profile: The Machums

Vintage poster aficionados Geoff and Kim Machum of Halifax, Nova Scotia, in Canada have adorned their beautiful home with iconic vintage poster art. A blended family of seven, the Machums are relatively new to poster collecting, but in a short time have developed an envious collection.

Geoff kindly took the time to answer some of our questions about collecting vintage posters.

HOW DID YOU GET INTERESTED IN COLLECTING VINTAGE POSTERS?

One of the challenges in combining our households, now over 10 years ago, was to find an artistic style that we both were drawn to and would help to decorate our lives and home going forward! We had – and still have – collections of more traditional art which have found their resting places in certain sections of our home. But as we began to ‘modernize’ our home through renovations and furniture, something drew us irresistibly to more modern and eclectic art forms. So perhaps our attraction to poster art was inevitable! We have always enjoyed travel together including to Europe, and loved the romance of the vintage settings that we visited or observed, whether it be architecture or fashion or products.

So it was with this background that we entered the wonderful world of collecting vintage poster art. It was really part of the campaign to adorn our surroundings with images that provoked thought and emotion and attachment to the bygone days of high glamour and fashion. It became quickly apparent to us that the most delightful method of achieving this was through the acquisition of vintage poster art!

WHAT WAS THE FIRST POSTER YOU PURCHASED?

The first poster we purchased was a Campari piece from International Poster Gallery in Boston where our oldest son attends college. We were just happening along and came across their wonderful gallery, and walked out with the Campari piece.

Since that time almost three years ago, we have acquired other pieces from that gallery and we also began to source some pieces from a European dealer. More recently of course, we have gotten to know Jim and Valerie at I Desire Vintage Posters and have purchased several from their collection.

WHAT THEME/S DO YOU FOCUS ON, AND WHY ARE THOSE THEMES INTERESTING OR IMPORTANT TO YOU?

Our themes really concentrate on fashion and products and related images. We have a great Perrier poster collection, for example. And we have several Gruau. We like bolder pieces, that’s for sure. We love how they embolden our home and compliment our modern renovations. But most of all, we love the conversation they provoke not just by family but our friends.

WHERE DO YOUR POSTERS HANG IN YOUR HOME, AND HOW DO THEY CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR HOME'S DESIGN?

The photos show just how prominently we display our poster art for all to see!

WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE PIECES AND WHY?

I would say our favorite pieces include:

[1] Our first Campari piece mentioned above. Because it was our first!